Railway signal-torpedo.



Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION man Dc.9. |913.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NoRRlS PETERS CQ. PHoTo-LITHCL, WASHINGTON. D. C.

FRANK DUTCHER, 0F VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CENTRAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUTGHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes and pertains to a torpedo having a case made from a paper blank to receive the explosive compound.

The object of my present invention is to provide means for efficiently attaching to the paper case a rail-engaging strap by which the torpedo is attached to the railroad-rail.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved torpedo showing it applied to a railroad-rail. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an inverted perspective view 0f the improved torpedo. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the parts in separated relation and the torpedo case opened up.

In carrying out the present invention the paper case A for containing the explosive compound B is formed from a paper blank C. The central portion l, of which is provided with a recess 2, formed by pressing or bulging outward the said central portion as shown in the accompanying drawing. The blank possesses in addition to the central portion, the side flaps 3 and end flaps t. The side flaps are caused to fold iiatly over the recess 2 by forming suitable folds 5 therein which folds may be regular as here shown or irregular, the principal function of which is to merely take up the looseness which otherwise occurs when folding the iiaps in position over the recess 2. Each of the end flaps 4 is made of a length approximately equal to the length of the body or central portion l, and when they are folded inward one over the other, a complete closure for the explosive compound is provided.

In constructing the torpedo the explosive compound B is preferably in the form of a tablet of a shape corresponding to the shape of the recess 2 and the side folds 5 are folded inward over this explosive compound and a plate 6 placed thereover.

For the purpose of strengthening the paper case and adapting it especially for the attachment of a spring rail-engaging strap, a plate 6 is placed and the end iiaps folded over and cemented together. To insure the holding of the end flaps in position, the plate 6 is provided with corner ears or lugs 7 which are turned around against the free ends of the iiaps and pressed down thereon and clamps the iiaps in position as clearly shown in Fig. 4. These ears are turned inward and clamped at the flat p0rtions a of the body or central portion 1 and hence the clamping is aifected at a place where there is no explosive compound and hence avoids any danger of exploding the charge by the clamping action.

One of the end flaps 4 (preferably the outside one) is utilized to receive a strap attaching plate 8. This plate 8 extends across the center of the outer end flap 4l and is provided with ears 9 which are turned inward around and clamped to the said flap. The spring rail-engaging strap l() is placed between this plate 8 and the flap 4c and in this way the plate holds the strap to the torpedo. This strap l0 may be attached to the plate in any of several well-known ways, but as here shown the plate is provided with one or more apertures 11 and the strap 10 is provided with a corresponding number of U-shaped bends 12 which project through these openings. These U-shaped bends perform a double function in that they prevent the strap from having any movement between the plate and the Hap and also cause the breaking of the spring when passed over by a train. This forms no part of my present invention for this is the subject matter of a patent already granted to me. The object of breaking the spring strap is to cause it to fall away from the rail and not remain thereon to be passed over by the wheels of the succeeding cars or succeeding trains and possibly doing injury to the rail because of the spring material of which the strap is made.

The primary object of the construction here disclosed is to provide plates between which the spring strap is placed. The inner plate serves to strengthen the case so that when the spring strap is opened wide to receive the railroad-rail, it will not buckle and twist the paper case, and the second or outer plate serves as a means for holding the strap to the torpedo case. The inner plate what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A railway signal torpedo comprising a case made from a blank having a central portion provided with an explosive receiving recess, the central portion having inwardly'folding flaps, a plate located between the flaps and provided with means for clamping the outer flap to the plate, a strap attaching plate connected'to the outer flap and a strap connected to the outer plate.

. 2. A railway signal torpedo, comprising a casermade from a paper blank having a central portion provided with an explosive receiving recess, the central portion having inwardly folding side flaps and inwardly folding end flaps, a plate located between the said flaps, a strap attaching plate connected to the outer iiap and a strap passing between the last said plate and the flap.

3. A railway signal torpedo comprising a case made from a blank having la central yportion provided with an explosive receiving recess, the central portion having inwardly folding flaps, a plate located between the flaps and the said central portion, said plate provided with ears bent around the outer side of the flaps for connecting the flaps to the plate, and a strap attaching plate connected to the outer Hap.

4. A railway signal torpedo comprising a case made from a blank having a central portion provided with an explosive receiving recess, the central portion having inwardly folding flaps for closing the said recess, a plate located .between the flaps and the central portion, the plate having corner ears turned upward around the outer flap, anda strap attaching plate connected to the outer flap.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses. FRANK DUTCHER. Witnesses:

R. W. JUNKER, G. M. LEONARD.

.Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

